Approaches for managing sugar levels -
Light activities include housework, gardening and walking. Talk to your healthcare professional about an exercise plan. Ask your healthcare professional what type of exercise is right for you. In general, most adults should get at least minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity.
That includes activities that get the heart pumping, such as walking, biking and swimming. Aim for about 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a day on most days of the week. Most adults also should aim to do strength-building exercise 2 to 3 times a week.
If you haven't been active for a long time, your healthcare professional may want to check your overall health first. Then the right balance of aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise can be recommended.
Keep an exercise schedule. Ask your healthcare professional about the best time of day for you to exercise. That way, your workout routine is aligned with your meal and medicine schedules.
Know your numbers. Talk with your healthcare professional about what blood sugar levels are right for you before you start exercise. Check your blood sugar level. Also talk with your healthcare professional about your blood sugar testing needs. If you don't take insulin or other diabetes medicines, you likely won't need to check your blood sugar before or during exercise.
But if you take insulin or other diabetes medicines, testing is important. Check your blood sugar before, during and after exercise. Many diabetes medicines lower blood sugar. So does exercise, and its effects can last up to a day later.
The risk of low blood sugar is greater if the activity is new to you. The risk also is greater if you start to exercise at a more intense level. Be aware of symptoms of low blood sugar. These include feeling shaky, weak, tired, hungry, lightheaded, irritable, anxious or confused.
See if you need a snack. Have a small snack before you exercise if you use insulin and your blood sugar level is low. The snack you have before exercise should contain about 15 to 30 grams of carbs.
Or you could take 10 to 20 grams of glucose products. This helps prevent a low blood sugar level. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water or other fluids while exercising. Dehydration can affect blood sugar levels. Be prepared. Always have a small snack, glucose tablets or glucose gel with you during exercise.
You'll need a quick way to boost your blood sugar if it drops too low. Carry medical identification too. In case of an emergency, medical identification can show others that you have diabetes. It also can show whether you take diabetes medicine such as insulin. Medical IDs come in forms such as cards, bracelets and necklaces.
Adjust your diabetes treatment plan as needed. If you take insulin, you may need to lower your insulin dose before you exercise. You also may need to watch your blood sugar level closely for several hours after intense activity. That's because low blood sugar can happen later on.
Your healthcare professional can advise you how to correctly make changes to your medicine. You also may need to adjust your treatment if you've increased how often or how hard you exercise. Insulin and other diabetes medicines are designed to lower blood sugar levels when diet and exercise alone don't help enough.
How well these medicines work depends on the timing and size of the dose. Medicines you take for conditions other than diabetes also can affect your blood sugar levels. Store insulin properly.
Insulin that is not stored properly or is past its expiration date may not work. Keep insulin away from extreme heat or cold. Don't store it in the freezer or in direct sunlight.
Tell your healthcare professional about any medicine problems. If your diabetes medicines cause your blood sugar level to drop too low, the dosage or timing may need to be changed.
Your healthcare professional also might adjust your medicine if your blood sugar stays too high. Be cautious with new medicines.
Talk with your healthcare team or pharmacist before you try new medicines. That includes medicines sold without a prescription and those prescribed for other medical conditions.
Ask how the new medicine might affect your blood sugar levels and any diabetes medicines you take. Sometimes a different medicine may be used to prevent dangerous side effects.
Or a different medicine might be used to prevent your current medicine from mixing poorly with a new one. With diabetes, it's important to be prepared for times of illness. When you're sick, your body makes stress-related hormones that help fight the illness.
But those hormones also can raise your blood sugar. Changes in your appetite and usual activity also may affect your blood sugar level. Plan ahead. Work with your healthcare team to make a plan for sick days.
Include instructions on what medicines to take and how to adjust your medicines if needed. Also note how often to measure your blood sugar. Ask your healthcare professional if you need to measure levels of acids in the urine called ketones.
Your plan also should include what foods and drinks to have, and what cold or flu medicines you can take. Know when to call your healthcare professional too.
For example, it's important to call if you run a fever over degrees Fahrenheit Keep taking your diabetes medicine. But call your healthcare professional if you can't eat because of an upset stomach or vomiting. In these situations, you may need to change your insulin dose. If you take rapid-acting or short-acting insulin or other diabetes medicine, you may need to lower the dose or stop taking it for a time.
These medicines need to be carefully balanced with food to prevent low blood sugar. But if you use long-acting insulin, do not stop taking it.
During times of illness, it's also important to check your blood sugar often. Stick to your diabetes meal plan if you can. Eating as usual helps you control your blood sugar.
Keep a supply of foods that are easy on your stomach. These include gelatin, crackers, soups, instant pudding and applesauce. Drink lots of water or other fluids that don't add calories, such as tea, to make sure you stay hydrated. If you take insulin, you may need to sip sugary drinks such as juice or sports drinks.
These drinks can help keep your blood sugar from dropping too low. It's risky for some people with diabetes to drink alcohol. Alcohol can lead to low blood sugar shortly after you drink it and for hours afterward. The liver usually releases stored sugar to offset falling blood sugar levels.
But if your liver is processing alcohol, it may not give your blood sugar the needed boost. Get your healthcare professional's OK to drink alcohol.
With diabetes, drinking too much alcohol sometimes can lead to health conditions such as nerve damage. But if your diabetes is under control and your healthcare professional agrees, an occasional alcoholic drink is fine.
Women should have no more than one drink a day. Men should have no more than two drinks a day. One drink equals a ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1. Don't drink alcohol on an empty stomach. If you take insulin or other diabetes medicines, eat before you drink alcohol.
This helps prevent low blood sugar. Or drink alcohol with a meal. Choose your drinks carefully. Light beer and dry wines have fewer calories and carbohydrates than do other alcoholic drinks.
If you prefer mixed drinks, sugar-free mixers won't raise your blood sugar. Some examples of sugar-free mixers are diet soda, diet tonic, club soda and seltzer. Add up calories from alcohol.
If you count calories, include the calories from any alcohol you drink in your daily count. Ask your healthcare professional or a registered dietitian how to make calories and carbohydrates from alcoholic drinks part of your diet plan.
Check your blood sugar level before bed. Alcohol can lower blood sugar levels long after you've had your last drink. So check your blood sugar level before you go to sleep. The snack can counter a drop in your blood sugar. Changes in hormone levels the week before and during periods can lead to swings in blood sugar levels.
Look for patterns. Keep careful track of your blood sugar readings from month to month. You may be able to predict blood sugar changes related to your menstrual cycle.
Your healthcare professional may recommend changes in your meal plan, activity level or diabetes medicines. These changes can make up for blood sugar swings. Check blood sugar more often. If you're likely nearing menopause or if you're in menopause, talk with your healthcare professional. Ask whether you need to check your blood sugar more often.
Also, be aware that menopause and low blood sugar have some symptoms in common, such as sweating and mood changes. So whenever you can, check your blood sugar before you treat your symptoms.
That way you can confirm whether your blood sugar is low. Most types of birth control are safe to use when you have diabetes.
But combination birth control pills may raise blood sugar levels in some people. It's very important to take charge of stress when you have diabetes. The hormones your body makes in response to prolonged stress may cause your blood sugar to rise.
It also may be harder to closely follow your usual routine to manage diabetes if you're under a lot of extra pressure. Take control. Once you know how stress affects your blood sugar level, make healthy changes.
Learn relaxation techniques, rank tasks in order of importance and set limits. Whenever you can, stay away from things that cause stress for you. Exercise often to help relieve stress and lower your blood sugar. Get help. Learn new ways to manage stress. You may find that working with a psychologist or clinical social worker can help.
These professionals can help you notice stressors, solve stressful problems and learn coping skills. The more you know about factors that have an effect on your blood sugar level, the better you can prepare to manage diabetes. If you have trouble keeping your blood sugar in your target range, ask your diabetes healthcare team for help.
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Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes — Diabetes Care. Nutrition overview. American Diabetes Association. Wait for 15 minutes and then check your blood sugar again. If you have problems with low blood sugar, ask your doctor if your treatment plan needs to be changed.
Many things can cause high blood sugar hyperglycemia , including being sick, being stressed, eating more than planned, and not giving yourself enough insulin. Over time, high blood sugar can lead to long-term, serious health problems.
Symptoms of high blood sugar include:. If you get sick , your blood sugar can be hard to manage. You may not be able to eat or drink as much as usual, which can affect blood sugar levels. High ketones can be an early sign of diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a medical emergency and needs to be treated immediately.
Ketones are a kind of fuel produced when fat is broken down for energy. When too many ketones are produced too fast, they can build up in your body and cause diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA. DKA is very serious and can cause a coma or even death.
Common symptoms of DKA include:. If you think you may have DKA, test your urine for ketones. Follow the test kit directions, checking the color of the test strip against the color chart in the kit to see your ketone level. If your ketones are high, call your health care provider right away.
DKA requires treatment in a hospital. Talk to your doctor about how to keep your blood sugar levels within your target range. Your doctor may suggest the following:. Carbs in food make your blood sugar levels go higher after you eat them than when you eat proteins or fats.
You can still eat carbs if you have diabetes. The amount you can have and stay in your target blood sugar range depends on your age, weight, activity level, and other factors. Counting carbs in foods and drinks is an important tool for managing blood sugar levels.
Make sure to talk to your health care team about the best carb goals for you. The A1C test is a simple blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2 or 3 months.
A1C testing is part of the ABCs of diabetes—important steps you can take to prevent or delay health complications down the road:. Work with your doctor to establish a personal A1C goal for you.
Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight , and getting regular physical activity can all help.
Other tips include:. Medicare , Medicaid, and most private insurance plans pay for the A1C test and fasting blood sugar test as well as some diabetes supplies. Check your plan or ask your health care team for help finding low-cost or free supplies, and see How to Save Money on Diabetes Care for more resources.
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Find several tips for avoiding blood sugar spikes here. Here are some general guidelines for blood sugar ranges :. Read more about blood sugar monitoring here. Most people can manage their diabetes in a way that stops their blood sugar levels from ever getting too high.
The following tips can help:. Doctors consider Type 2 diabetes to be in remission if your blood sugar levels remain normal for at least 3 months without the use of glucose-lowering medications. Giving sugar to someone with hyperglycemia will not immediately worsen the condition.
However, the best plan of action is to take insulin to bring your blood sugar levels down. Talk with your doctor about how much insulin you should take for instances like this. Here are some lifestyle habits to lower your blood sugar levels naturally:.
You can buy an over-the-counter urine test kit at your local drugstore. Diabetic ketoacidosis requires immediate medical treatment. Administering insulin and exercising are two of the most common ways to get blood sugar levels down.
However, if someone has ketones in their urine or symptoms of excessively high blood sugar, they may need to go to the emergency room. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
VIEW ALL HISTORY. Monitoring your blood sugar is vital for controlling diabetes. Learn how glucose is produced, when and how to check your levels, and recommended…. Sugary sodas can cause cravings.
Here's a guide on how to stop drinking soda. Insulin is a very important hormone in the body. A resistance to its effects, called insulin resistance, is a leading driver of many health conditions.
Blood sugar spikes occur in people with diabetes because their bodies are unable to use insulin effectively. Learn more here. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious complication of diabetes.
When insulin levels are too low, it can be life threatening. Learn about the symptoms and…. People with diabetes must routinely monitor and regulate their blood sugar. No matter how careful they may be, there is still a possibility of…. What foods help you decrease both your blood sugar and cholesterol?
Our nutrition expert answers your question. You may treat blood sugar rises after meals with diabetes medications or possibly lifestyle changes. Your doctor can help you figure out what may work…. If your blood sugar levels go higher when you haven't eaten for 2 hours or more, this may be a sign of diabetes or other health issue to talk about….
A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. How to Reduce Blood Sugar Immediately. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Best ways When to see a doctor When to go to the ER Complications of highs Blood sugar chart Tips for healthy living FAQ Bottom line The quickest way to lower your blood sugar is to take fast-acting insulin.
Best ways to lower blood sugar quickly. When to contact a doctor. Explore our top resources. When to go to the ER.
When to call If you or someone around you is experiencing any of the above symptoms in relation to diabetes, call or visit the nearest emergency room. Was this helpful? Complications of high blood sugar. Discover more about Type 2 Diabetes. What is the range for hyperglycemia?
Eat a snack to raise blood sugar e. honey, or 2 tbsp. Call your doctor if you find moderate amounts of ketones after more than one test. Tips for healthful living with diabetes. Frequently asked questions about hyperglycemia.
The bottom line. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.
We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Jan 19, Written By Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA. Medically Reviewed By Debra Sullivan, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, COI.
Oct 16, Written By Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA. Share this article. Read this next. What You Should Know About Managing Glucose Levels Monitoring your blood sugar is vital for controlling diabetes. Learn how glucose is produced, when and how to check your levels, and recommended… READ MORE.
How to Stop Drinking Soda: A Complete Guide. Insulin and Insulin Resistance: The Ultimate Guide. By Kris Gunnars, BSc. How to Recognize and Manage a Blood Sugar Spike. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.
What You Should Know About Diabetic Ketoacidosis.
: Approaches for managing sugar levels| How To Treat Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia) | Check it after 15 minutes. If lveels have problems Macadamia nut cookies low blood Handpicked Orange Extract, ask your doctor if your mqnaging plan needs to be changed. Glycemic load and nutrient absorption implantable device could help levsls type 1 diabetes without injections MIT researchers developed a small implantable device that improved insulin production in mice. If you take insulin, you may need to check your blood sugar multiple times a day. When you don't manage your blood sugar level appropriately, hyperglycemia high blood sugar and hypoglycemia low blood sugar can occur as the level rises and falls drastically. They may be able to identify patterns and help prevent lows by adjusting the timing and amount of your insulin, physical activity, and meals. |
| 12 Healthy Ways to Lower Your Blood Sugar | Keep a record Leevls your Weight control success stories to share with your health care elvels. Keep taking your diabetes levsls. When it manwging to Glycemic load and nutrient absorption diabetes, adding the right superfoods to your diet is key. Of course, it's also important to be realistic. Insulin and other diabetes medicines are designed to lower blood sugar levels when diet and exercise alone don't help enough. Sep 14, Medically Reviewed By Imashi Fernando, MS, RDN, CDCES. |
| How to Lower Blood Sugar Quickly in an Emergency: Tips and More | Be sure to talk to your health care team about which targets are best for you. This can show you whether you need to make small changes to a meal if it spikes your blood sugar, rather than avoiding your favorite meals altogether. When you do drink it, make sure you're serving it up in an actual juice glass which might hold 4 ounces, for example rather than a large cup. The body breaks these carbohydrates down very quickly, which causes blood sugar to rise rapidly. But you don't need to glug a ton. Learn about the symptoms and…. |
| Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar - Mayo Clinic | As such, more research is needed 41 , 45 , Their use is often associated with weight loss, and some may reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Error Include a valid email address. Examples include fruit juice, glucose tablets, hard candy or another source of sugar. Has taking insulin led to weight gain for you? WHAT SHOULD I EAT? |
| 10 tips for healthy eating with diabetes | Diabetes UK | Managiing these tips:. Initial management Handpicked Orange Extract hyperglycemia in adults with type sugra diabetes mellitus. Approachs body managign stress hormones when it is under Approaches for managing sugar levels, such as when a person is ill or experiencing emotional stress, and these hormones can raise blood sugar levels. Stephanie Eckelkamp is a writer and editor who has been working for leading health publications for the past 10 years. Hypertension FAQs Hypertensive crisis: What are the symptoms? |
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